Tottenham inched closer to last-16 Champions League spot after beating 10-man Borussia Dortmund at home.
Thomas Frank has given himself some time as Tottenham Hotspur head coach after a much-needed 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening.
The Dane headed into this fixture with clouds of uncertainty, having failed to turn the club’s Premier League fortunes around in recent months. The “You are getting sacked in the morning” chants aimed at him during the West Ham game last weekend were a clear indication that many match-going supporters have had enough and want the hierarchy to make a change in the dugout.
After the heartbreaking, last-gasp home defeat to West Ham, Thomas Frank wanted a rousing response from his boys against Borussia Dortmund. And he got that, with the boys putting out a reminder that there is a lot of quality in this side, far more than has been demonstrated.
Cristian Romero gave Spurs an early lead in the 14th minute with a smart finish inside the box from a low Wilson Odobert cross following a set-piece scramble, before Dominic Solanke made it 2-0 for the hosts in the 37th minute. Daniel Svensson’s 26th-minute red card left Borussia Dortmund with ten men, allowing Thomas Frank’s side to dominate the rest of the fixture.
Thomas Frank praises Tottenham trio in victory over Borussia Dortmund
Persistent injury problems have plagued Tottenham’s season. On top of that, suspensions have not done any favours to Thomas Frank. The Spurs gaffer was without more than 10 players in the encounter against Dortmund due to a combination of injuries, suspensions and ineligibility issues. So, he was forced to make tweaks to his system and try getting the best out of the available resources.
Djed Spence, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons all started in the game. Djed Spence operated in a left-back role, Wilson Odobert operated off the right, and Xavi Simons from the opposite flank in a 3-4-3 system, with Frank trying to match Dortmund’s system.
Spence had an excellent first half, stretching the Dortmund defence with his dribbling from a wing-back role. Odobert was a menace on the right flank, using his pace and directness to cause the German side so many problems. He picked up two assists along the way. And Simons enjoyed more of a free role, occupying pockets of space to orchestrate Tottenham’s attacks.
When addressing the media after the game in the post-match press conference, Frank was asked about Simons, Spence and Odobert acting as the creative hubs of the side and how they fared in the game. To which, he answered (h/t Football London):
“I think they did very well. So, we played that, how can you say? It was a little bit of a 3-4-3, both to match it up, but also to do it a little bit, taking care of it. And Djed, I think, did exceptionally well, especially in the first half.
“Xavi produced a lot of good moments and found good positions, and I think Wilson was electric at times. So, I’m happy with that.”
Odobert, in particular, ran the Dortmund defence ragged, linked up very well with his teammates, and created plenty for No.9 Solanke. The Frenchman was at the receiving end of a late, high, and forceful Svensson’s challenge that led to the Dortmund wing-back’s sending off. This not only allowed Spurs to take control of the game but also gave his teammate Simons to dictate terms and exploit large spaces. Spence flourished in a wing-back role, impacting the play at both ends of the pitch.
The game showcased that Frank has the ability to mix things up in times of adversity and get the best out of the players available to him on the given day. It is all about consistency now.
